Officer Hurt After NYC Man Steps On Gas Pedal, Crashes Car At LI Mall: PD

LONG ISLAND, NY — A Queens man at Green Acres Mall was arrested after having been behind the wheel of a vehicle that was blocking a roadway Friday night; he then accelerated, causing it to flip over — and a responding officer was hurt, Nassau County police said.

Officers responded to a report of an unconscious male in a blue 2023 Audi that was stopped in the middle of Green Acres Road, blocking traffic, and tried to render aid to Jeffrey Cabreja, 30, but he abruptly stepped on the gas pedal, causing the vehicle to accelerate and strike a black 2019 Jeep and his vehicle to flip over, according to police.

He was removed from the vehicle by officers and was taken to a local hospital, police said, adding that an officer was hurt on the shoulder and was also taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment, police said.

It was later determined that Cabreja had no authority to drive the 2023 Audi and he was placed under arrest, according to police.

Cabreja was charged with driving while ability impaired, second-degree assault, third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and multiple vehicle and traffic law summonses, police said.

He will be arraigned when medically practical, according to police.